Cable grip clamp arrangement

ABSTRACT

A cable grip clamp arrangement for a ski tow wherein the arrangement includes a fixed outer jaw member connected with the ski lift chair hanger bar and an inner movable jaw member and a spring cartridge within the arrangement between the fixed and movable jaws for urging the movable jaw toward the fixed jaw for tight engagement of the clamp arrangement about the cable, the cartridge including a plurality of pairs of opposed Belleville spring washers. A further feature is to provide for a flat generally vertical shoulder on the fixed jaw for engagement with a generally flat vertical surface of the bull wheel liner to prevent the ski lift chair from swinging outward by centrifugal force as it comes around the bull wheel. A further feature is to provide for a spring washer installed in the outer barrel portion of the fixed jaw member for engagement with the chair clamp that is disposed peripherally about the barrel portion of the fixed jaw member to exert pressure against the end of the chair clamp in order to prevent swinging of the chair back and forth, in the line of the cable.

United States Patent Berry et a1.

[ Jan. 15, 197 1 CABLE GRIP CLAMP ARRANGEMENT Primary Examiner-Bernard A. Gelak [75] Inventors: Walter V. Berry, Pittsburgh; Paul J. H1lmnd vogel et Hunziker, Zelienople, both of Pa. 73 A P llm I ted Ch' 111 [57] ABSTRACT 1 Sslgnee' u an corpora A cable grip clamp arrangement for a ski tow wherein [22] Filed: Aug. 25, 1971 the arran ement includes a fixed outer jaw member 'hh k'l'f h'h b d connecte wit t e s 1 it c an anger ar an an [21] Appl 1747s4 inner movable jaw member and a spring cartridge within the arrangement between the fixed and mov- [52] US. Cl 104/202, 24/115 G, 104/209, able jaws for urging the movable jaw toward the fixed 24/136 jaw for tight engagement of the clamp arrangement [51] Int. Cl Fl6g 11/03, F16g 11/00 about the cable, the cartridge including a plurality of [58] Field of Search 26/115 G, 263 D, pairs of opposed Belleville spring washers. A further 26/263 SB; 104/209, 202, 223, 214; 24/136 feature is to provide for a flat generally vertical shoulder on the fixed jaw for engagement with a generally [56] References Cited flat vertical surface of the bull wheel liner to prevent UNITED STATES PATENTS the ski lift chair from swinging outward by centrifugal 2,384,437 9/1945 Boynton 24/263 SB it comfas around wheel; A 3,605,491 9 1971 Senn 104 209 to for sprmg Installed the outer barrel port1on of the fixed aw member for en- FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS gagement with the chair clamp that is disposed periphl,233,699 l0/l960 France 104/202 orally about the barrel portion of the fixed jaw mem- Austria her to exert pressure against the end of the chair 1 ganada clamp in order to prevent swinging of the chair back rance 265,701 3 1950 Switzerland 104 202 and forth m the me of the cable 7 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures 21 24 33 Ha 23 32 43 34 48 2 x 44 35 42 45 lib 47 H I8 370 22 E 20 M 53 8 25a \0 3o CABLE GRIP CLAMP ARRANGEMENT BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The field of art to which this invention pertains is in the ski tow arrangements such as chair lifts, rope tows, T-bar, gondolas, aerial tramways and mono-cables and in particular relates to the clamp arrangement attaching the hanger bar to the cable or tow line.

2. Description of the Prior Art The clamping arrangement is the most vital component of such snow ski tow systems because the safety and success of the entire system is dependent upon the quality of the clamping device. Slippage of the cable through the clamp could create serious accidents. In order to eliminate the danger of slippage and to compensate for variations in cable thickness, loosening friction between clamp and cable and changes in tension or temperature and, further, to provide a breathing between the multi-strand cable and the cable clamp, it is customary to provide Belleville type spring disc washers inserted between the spindle and the clamp. Proper installation requires that in assembly every other spring washer be reversed. On occasion, reversal of the spring washers was inadvertently not followed and such nesting arrangement caused failure of the clamp, causing the ski chair to slip back down the cable and cause injury to the occupants of the ski chair. The following disclosed novel and inventive arrangement obviates this difficulty and danger.

SUMMARY The present invention relates to cable grips for aerial rope tramways such as ski tows and chair lifts. It is a prime object of this invention to devise a sealed cartridge into which these Belleville spring washers are correctly assembled which removes the necessity of assembly on the job and prevents the possibility of incorrect assembly that can create accidents and wherein this sealed cartridge can then be inserted into a cable clamping device or arrangement after which pressure on the cable is applied by loading the Belleville spring arrangement until the desired force is applied on the clamping arrangement for holding the clamping arrangement fixed about the cable or tow line whereby an attached ski chair or the like to the clamping arrangement is prevented from slipping downhill.

Another object of the invention is to provide for an inspection window on each side of the sealed cartridge so that the Belleville springs can be visually assembled.

A further object of this invention is to provide for a flat shoulder on the end of the fixed clamp that engages a flat recessed portion of the bull wheel liner to prevent the chair from swinging outward by centrifugal force as the chair comes around the bull wheel, thus eliminating need for guard rails which create wear on the chair lift components and thereby any ultimate failure and possible resulting accident.

Still another object of this invention is to provide for a spring means installed in the barrel of the fixed clamp part of the cable clamp arrangement for urging the chair clamp part into engagement with the fixed clamp to prevent swinging of the chair back and forth in line with the cable whereby stability is added to the chair, particularly in the presence of high wind.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a view of a snow ski or aerial rope tramway in the form of a chair lift;

FIG. 2 is a transverse view across the tow line and i1- lustrating a supporting sheave at one of several towers, and the clamp in the locked (solid line) position and unlocked (dotted line) position, arrangement and the chair hanger bar;

FIG. 2A is a plan view similar to FIG. 2 showing the clamp in the locked position;

FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view through a clamping arrangement and the horizontal bull wheel situated at one of two terminal stations;

FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view through a springcontaining cartridge of the instant invention;

FIG. 5 is an elevational view illustrating the elongated side of the cartridge; and

FIG. 6 is an end view of FIG. 5.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The invention presented here relates to improvements in cable grips for aerial tramways, chair lifts and T-bars operating with monocables. A number of such cable grips are fixed to a continuously operating cable at short distances from another, those distances beingdetermined by the number of passengers the operator wishes to transport per hour. Passengers can be seated in chairs (whether designed for one, two or four passengers), in gondolas, or the passengers can be towed with T-bars. Lifts of this type run on cables which pass over numerous supporting sheaves fixed on several towers. The sheaves guide the continuously running operating cable and the aforementioned cable grips, which in turn carry chairs, gondolas or T-bars on a hanger. A horizontal wheel is situated in each of the two terminal stations which guides the continuously operating cable around to proceed back in the opposite direction. One of these wheels is joined to a power unit.

The particular inventive arrangement disclosed herebelow involves spring-loaded inner and outer cable clamp members as, for instance, shown in the prior art by U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,416,462 and 3,420,l89.

With reference to the drawings and, in particular with reference to FIG. 1, there is shown a view of a snow ski or aerial rope tramway in the form of a chair lift arrangement 1 which includes the continuous cable or tow line 2, the clamp arrangement 3 and the chair 4. FIGS. 2 and 2A show an enlarged view of the cable 2 and the clamp arrangement 3 extending and engaging with the supporting sheave 5 which is located at one of the towers. FIG. 3 shows the engagement of the outer or fixed clamp or jaw member 6 with the bull wheel resilient liner 7 received in the bull wheel U-shaped flange structure 8 of the bull wheel 9. In addition to the outer fixed clamp or jaw member 6, the clamp arrangement 3 also includes the inner movable clamp or jaw member 10. The outer fixed jaw 6 has a U-shaped jaw end arm 11a which has a liner engaging portion 11b which has outer shoulder or surface 11 that is generally vertical and has an upper or generally horizontal surface 12 that is sloped and is continuous with the shoulder 11 to form a knuckle which is set in recess 13 of the bull wheel liner 7. The recess 13 is formed with complemental surfaces 14 and 15 which cooperate with the shoulder 11 and surface 12 to form a seat for the outer end 11b of the outer jaw member 6. The liner engaging knuckle of the fixed jaw 6 has an arcuate inner portion 16 that engagingly encompasses little more than onehalf of cable or tow line 2. The movable jaw member has an outer arm portion 18 extending in between the U-shaped jaw end arm 11a and having an outer arcuate or concave portion 19 that engages about a remaining third of the cable 2. The movable jaw member 10 has an inner shaft portion 20 fixed on the outer portion 18 and slidably received in bore 22 of the tube or sleeve 23 of the barrel 21 of the fixed jaw member 6. A bronze bushing or sleeve bearing 24 surrounds the sleeve 23 and an annular tubular chair clamp 25 surrounds the bushing 24. The clamp 25 is connected to the chair 4 by the hanger bar 25a. The chair clamp 25 and the bushing 24 are entrapped between the barrel flange 26 of barrel 21, the retainer 27, and annular Belleville spring washer means 28 in the form of opposed ring Belleville spring washers 29 and 30 which nest in recess 31 formed between retainer ring 27 and base 32 of threaded end nut ring portion 33 of barrel nut 34 threaded on the threaded reduced annular end part 35 of fixed jaw barrel sleeve 23. A further retainer ring 36 in cutout 31 cooperates with retainer 27 in entraining spring unit 28.

A Belleville spring-containing tubular sealed cartridge 37 is stowed in the barrel sleeve bore 22 between the inner flat end 37a of shaft portion 20 on the inner end 38 of the bore 22 and the inner end 39 of the threaded Belleville spring compression or load adjusting stud 40. The stud 40 is threadably adjustable in threaded bore 41 of the outer reduced end portion 42 of the nut 34. A set screw 43 in the threaded vertical bore 44 in nut ring portion 33 threadingly engages threads of reduced end 35 to prevent rotation of nut 34 once it is adjusted in position on threaded end 35 of the fixed jaw member 6. The stud 40 is provided with an outer turning nut head 45 at its free outer end and is provided with a locking nut 46 and associated keyed lock washer 47 intermediate its outer end and up against the outer face 48 of the reduced end portion 42 of the nut 34. The desired extension of the stud 40 into the sealed cartridge 37 is maintained by the nut 46 and associated keyed lock washer 47. The cartridge 37 (see FIGS. 4 and 5) includes an annular tubular housing 49 which has welded thereto, as indicated by w, opposed outer end spring retaining rings 50 and 51. Since either ring 50 or 51 is identical, the spring cartridge can be installed in the clamp arrangement from either of the cartridge ends, or end for end. Each ring 50 or 51 is provided with an associated plain disc washer 52 and each washer 52 bears against a respective end of an assembly of a plurality of Belleville spring units 53. Each of the plain disc washers 52 closes a respective end of the cartridge. Each Belleville spring assembly comprises two convex spring elements 54 and 55 spaced one over the other and facing two similarly spaced spring elements 56 and 57 in similarly bowed or convex relation with elements 54 and 55. Each spring element 54, 55, 56 or 57 comprises a spring-like member having an outer ring portion 58 that is deflected or angled away from its flat or vertical axis and is provided with a central opening 59. When the adjusting stud 40 engages one of the washers 52 it permits compression for flattening of the various spring elements of the various Belleville spring assemblies 53 to place compression load on the movable jaw member 10.

washers 54, 55, 56 and 57 are correctly assembled consequently removes the necessity of assembly at the ski site or on the job and prevents a possibility of incorrect assembly that can create accidents. The flat shoulder 11 of fixed clamp 6 presses against the yielding bull wheel liner 7 and prevents the chair from swinging outwardly by centrifugal force as it comes around the bull wheel 9. This eliminates the need for guard rails which create wear and ultimate failure on the components which rub against the guard rail. This feature prevents ultimate failure and a resultant accident. The spring washer arrangement 28 is installed in the barrel 21 of the fixed clamp 6 for the purpose of exerting tension or pressure against the end 60' of the chair clamp 25 in order to prevent swinging of the chair 4 back and forth, in line with the cable 2. This feature adds stability to the chair, particularly in the presence of high wind. The cartridge housing 49 is provided with a window 60 for viewing and inspecting the spring washers to check for broken spring washers and proper installation of the washers.

The foregoing description and drawings merely explain and illustrate the invention and the invention is not limited thereto, except insofar as the appended claims are so limited, as those skilled in the art who have the disclosure before them will be able to make modifications and variations therein without departing from the scope of the invention.

What is claimed is: l. A cable clamp assembly including an outer fixed cable clamp and an inner movable clamp and resilient means urging the movable clamp against an associated rope and between the fixed and movable clamps,

said outer fixed clamp including a tubular portion and said inner movable clamp being reciprocably disposed within said outer clamp tubular portion,

said resilient means being disposed within said fixed clamp tubular portion adjacent said movable clamp and adjusting structure adjustably engaging and compressing said resilient means, said resilient means including a cartridge and spring means disposed within said cartridge and engageable with said movable clamp and with said adjusting structure attendant to urging said movable clamp toward said fixed clamp. 2. The invention according to claim 1, and said cartridge including a plurality of annular ring springs stacked in vertical alignment and having peripheral portions diverging from adjacent spring members and being biasingly deflected toward one another by said adjusting structure. 3. A cable clamp assembly including an outer fixed cable clamp and an inner movable clamp and resilient means urging the movable clamp against an associated rope and between the fixed and movable clamps,

said outer fixed' clamp including a tubular portion and said inner movable clamp being reciprocably disposed within said outer clamp tubular portion,

said resilient means being disposed within said fixed clamp tubular portion adjacent said movable clamp and adjusting structure adjustably engaging and compressing said resilient means,

said resilient means including a cartridge comprising:

a tubular housing having axially opposed open ends,

a spring arrangement within said housing and retained therein against expansion outwardly of said open ends,

said spring arrangement including a plurality of sets of axially stacked pairs of annular disc-like rings,

each set comprising a pair of annular spring discs,

each disc facing the other and having its outer peripheral portions annularly diverging toward the other and in compressing engagement therewith. pg,

4. The invention according to claim 3, and

an adjustable stud engageable within the tubular portion in urging said spring arrangement toward said movable clamp for urging the movable clamp outwardly of the tubular portion.

5. A clamp arrangement for a cable including inner and outer clamps engaging said cable,

said outer clamp being fixed and said inner clamp being movable toward the cable and the outer clamp in compressing the cable between each of the clamps,

resilient means spaced between each of the clamps in urging the inner clamp toward the outer clamp,

said resilient means including a spring-retaining cartridge and spring means within said cartridge,

adjusting means extendable within the cartridge and compressing the spring means which in turn press against the movable clamp and urge it toward the fixed clamp for tight clasping of the cable. 6. A cable clamp assembly including an outer fixed cable clamp and an inner movable clamp and resilient means urging the movable clamp against an associated rope and between the fixed and movable clamps,

said outer fixed clamp including a tubular portion and said inner movable clamp being reciprocably disposed within said outer clamp tubular portion,

said resilient means being disposed within said fixed clamp tubular portion adjacent said movable clamp and adjusting structure adjustably engaging and compressing said resilient means,

said resilient means including a cartridge containing spring means for urging the movable clamp toward the fixed clamp wherein both clamps are grasping a cable.

7. The invention according to claim 6, and

said spring means including a plurality of sets of axially stacked pairs of annular disc-like rings,

each set comprising a pair of annular spring discs,

each disc facing the other and having its outer pe riphery portions annularly diverging toward the other and in compressing engagement therewith.

=l= =l =l 

1. A cable clamp assembly including an outer fixed cable clamp and an inner movable clamp and resilient means urging the movable clamp against an associated rope and between the fixed and movable clamps, said outer fixed clamp including a tubular portion and said inner movable clamp being reciprocably disposed within said outer clamp tubular portion, said resilient means being disposed within said fixed clamp tubular portion adjacent said movable clamp and adjusting structure adjustably engaging and compressing said resilient means, said resilient means including a cartridge and spring means disposed within said cartridge and engageable with said movable clamp and with said adjusting structure attendant to urging said movable clamp toward said fixed clamp.
 2. The invention according to claim 1, and said cartridge including a plurality of annular ring springs stacked in vertical alignment and having peripheral portions diverging from adjacent spring members and being biasingly deflected toward one another by said adjusting structure.
 3. A cable clamp assembly including an outer fixed cable clamp and an inner movable clamp and resilient means urging the movable clamp against an associated rope and between the fixed and movable clamps, said outer fixed clamp including a tubular portion and said inner movable clamp being reciprocably disposed within said outer clamp tubular portion, said resilient means being disposed within said fixed clamp tubular portion adjacent said movable clamp and adjusting structure adjustably engaging and compressing said resilient means, said resilient means including a cartridge comprising: a tubular housing having axially opposed open ends, a spring arrangement within said housing and retained therein against expansion outwardly of said open ends, said spring arrangement including a plurality of sets of axially stacked pairs of annular disc-like rings, each set comprising a pair of annular spring discs, each disc facing the other and having its outer peripheral portions annularly diverging toward the other and in compressing engagement therewith.
 4. The invention according to claim 3, and an adjustable stud engageable within the tubular portion in urging said spring arrangement toward said movable clamp for urging the movable clamp outwardly of the tubular portion.
 5. A clamp arrangement for a cable including inner and outer clamps engaging said cable, said outer clamp being fixed and said inner clamp being movable toward the cable and The outer clamp in compressing the cable between each of the clamps, resilient means spaced between each of the clamps in urging the inner clamp toward the outer clamp, said resilient means including a spring-retaining cartridge and spring means within said cartridge, adjusting means extendable within the cartridge and compressing the spring means which in turn press against the movable clamp and urge it toward the fixed clamp for tight clasping of the cable.
 6. A cable clamp assembly including an outer fixed cable clamp and an inner movable clamp and resilient means urging the movable clamp against an associated rope and between the fixed and movable clamps, said outer fixed clamp including a tubular portion and said inner movable clamp being reciprocably disposed within said outer clamp tubular portion, said resilient means being disposed within said fixed clamp tubular portion adjacent said movable clamp and adjusting structure adjustably engaging and compressing said resilient means, said resilient means including a cartridge containing spring means for urging the movable clamp toward the fixed clamp wherein both clamps are grasping a cable.
 7. The invention according to claim 6, and said spring means including a plurality of sets of axially stacked pairs of annular disc-like rings, each set comprising a pair of annular spring discs, each disc facing the other and having its outer periphery portions annularly diverging toward the other and in compressing engagement therewith. 